A single bond is one type of bond that occurs when two atoms join together in chemistry. The bond is formed when two atoms come together. If the atoms are the same, the molecule is called a molecule, and if the atoms are different, the compound is called a compound. A single bond, a double bond, or even a triple bond can connect the atoms.
The number of electrons in an atom’s outermost shell determines how that atom reacts when it comes into contact with another atom. A chemical bond is formed by the sharing or transfer of electrons between atoms. When an atom’s outer shell is full, it is the most stable and non-reactive. Only one pair of electrons are required to form a single bond. Double and triple bonds, respectively, require two and three electrons.
Chemical bonds can be divided into three categories. They appear in a variety of situations and produce molecules and compounds with a variety of properties. Ionic bonds, covalent bonds, and metallic bonds are the three types of chemical bonds that can form between atoms. These bonds can be single, double, or triple bonds in any combination.
When an electron is transferred from a metal to a non-metal, it forms an ionic single bond. For example, sodium chloride (NaCl) is a compound in which a sodium atom and a chlorine atom form an ionic single bond. This happens because sodium (Na) has one electron in its outer shell that it wants to give away, whereas chlorine (Cl) has seven electrons and needs one to have a complete outer shell. The Na atom transfers one electron to the Cl atom when Na and Cl react to form NaCl. Chemical bonding of this type is the most powerful.
Non-metal atoms join with other non-metal atoms to form covalent single bonds. The difference between covalent and ionic bonds is that in a covalent bond, the atoms share electrons. When there are no metal atoms available to bond with the non-metals, covalent bonding occurs. Because no electrons are transferred, covalent single bonds are much weaker than ionic single bonds. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) and the bonds found in a water molecule — H2O, or two hydrogen atoms attached to an oxygen atom by a single bond — are examples of single covalent bonds.
Metallic bonding occurs when metal atoms with one, two, or three electrons in their outer shells come together. Metal atoms pool electrons, which they can then share, resulting in this type of bond. The pool of electrons that holds metals and metal mixtures, or alloys, together gives them their distinct properties.